Encapsulated suppository and capsule therefor



ENCAPSULATED sUPPosI'rbRY' yAND CAPSULE THEREFOR E. DAVIDSON EI'AL FiledMay 24. 1955 Hf Z lNvENToRs DH v/DsoA/ EM/L HHB/gow Ml. WML/,4,145

A oRNl-:Y

EN CAPLULATED SUPPOSITORY AND CAPSULE THEREFOR Emil Davidson, Scarsdale,and Harold Williams, Pavvling, N. Y.; said Williams assigner to saidDavidson Application May 24, 1955, Serial No. 510,681

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 271) Our invention relates to an encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor and more particularly to anencapsulated suppository and its capsule which preserves the shape andcharacter of the suppository.

In the prior art, suppositories are formed of a base and medication usedin the treatment of irritations or diseases of the body cavities. Afterformation the suppositories are packaged by hand or machine in aseparate operation. For example, the Asuppositories may be molded inpress molds from which they are first removed and then packaged inwrappers of metal foil or the like. It will be appreciated that thesuppository base must be a material which melts at a temperature of, orbelow, body temperature. For example, cocoa butter or a glyceride of oneof the fatty acids, such as stearic, palmitic, oleic, and like fattyacids, is often used as a base. Cocoa butter has a melting point between30 and 35 C. Since'suppositories are formed of material which melts at atemperature below body temperature, they are easily deformed by hightemperatures or by the application of pressure. Once deformed thesuppository may not readily be resolidified or reformed to its originalshape. As a consequence, users of suppositories must take specialprecautions in storing and handling them if they are to be available incondition for use when desired. It will be appreciated, moreover, thatdistributors and vendors of suppositories must take similar precautionsto avoid losses resulting from melting and deformation of suppositories.

Many of the suppositories of the prior art include medications which arehygroscopic or deliquescent. lf wrappers, such as metal foil wrappers,which do not completely protect the suppository from access to the airare used in packaging the suppositories can be stored for only a limitedperiod of time without deteriorating to an extent which renders themunusable. It is desirable, therefore, that the suppository packageprotect the suppository from access to the air. The prior art providesglass vials for protecting suppositories from the atmosphere. It will beunderstood that such vials must be stored and handled with care and addmaterially to the cost of manufacturing and marketing suppositories.Further, diiculty is often experienced in attempting to remove asuppository from its vial.

We have invented an encapsulated suppository and capsule therefor whichretains the shape and character of the suppository charge. After havingmelted or softened during shipment or storage, our suppository will notlose its original form and can easily be rendered ready for use bychilling the charge before removing it from its capsule. We provide oursuppository capsule with means for initiating the removal of thesuppository from the capsule. The capsule of our suppository alsofunctions as the mold into which the material making up the suppositoryis poured inmanufacturing the suppository.

One object of our invention is to provide an encapsuy i2,863,454Fatented Dec. 9, 1958 lated suppository and capsule therefor whichretains the shape of the suppository. p

Another object of our invention is to provide an encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor in which the suppository shape will beretained after softening.

A further object of our invention is to provide an encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor which includes means for initiating theremoval of the supposi-- tory from the capsule.

Yet another object of our invention is to provide an encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor in which the capsule acts as a moldinto which the material forming the suppository may be poured inmanufacturing the suppositories.

A still further object of our invention is to provide an encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor which pro tects the material formingthe suppository from the air.

Other and further objects of our invention will appear from thefollowing description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of an encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor in which the capsule body forms themold into which the suppository forming material such as a moltenmedication is poured to form the suppository. Our capsule is air tightto protect the suppository from the atmosphere. It includes meanspermitting ready access to the suppository and easy removal of thesuppository from the capsule when it is to be used.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instantspecification and which are to be read in conl junction therewith andwhich like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in thevarious views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of a capsule for ourencapsulated suppository.

Figure 2 is an exploded view, with the parts in section and drawnA on anenlarged scale, of the capsule shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, drawn on an enlarged scale, of ourencapsulated suppository and capsule therefor, taken along the line 3-3of Figure l, but with the supposltory in position.

Figure 4 is a sectional View of asecond form of our encapsulatedsuppository and capsule therefor with a part o f the capsule removed andthe suppository ready for ejectlon.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, our encapsulatedsuppository, indicated generally by the reference character 1i),includes a capsule body formed by a nose section 12 and a body section14. We mold sections 12 and 14 from any suitable plastic resinousmaterial, such, for example, as polystyrene or polyethylene. As can beseen by reference to Figures 2 and 3, We form the nose section 12 of thecapsule body with an annular flange 16 around the periphery of its openend. Flange 16 forms an annular body 18 with the section 12. We

' form one end of the central capsule body section 14 with a peripheralboss 20 for engaging flange 16 to seat the section 14 on the section 12.It is to be understood that, if desired, we could provide section 14with flange 16 and provide section 12 with boss Ztl. We mate the outersurface of boss 2@ and the inner surface of flange 16 to provide anairtight seal when sections 12 and 14 are in assembled relationship.This may conveniently be accomplished by a friction tit, snap tit, orscrew joint between the engaging surfaces. It will be understood thatthe sections l2 and 14 of a capsule body for our encapsulatedsuppository may be assembled on a suitable machine (not shown).

While we have shown the joint between sections 12 and 14 as lying in aplane perpendicular to the axis of the assembled sections 12 and 14,this joint may lie in aplane making any other convenient angle with theaxis of the assembled sections 12 and 14. The joint should be such thatthe widest part of the suppository charge, to be described; hereinafter,isnot enclosed by section 14.

When assembled, sections 12 and 14 forma` mold into which the molten`suppository charge 22 ispoured. After charges of a base material, suchas cocoa butter, or the like, and a suitablemedication have been pouredinto the assembled sections 12 and 14, we close the suppositorycapsulezby a. cylindrical cap 24 formed of any appropriate plasticresinous material, such as polyethylene, polystyrene or the like. Weform the central section 14 with a thickened wallat its end to provide acylindrical boss 26 for seating cap 24.

The contour of the interior surface provided by the assembled sections12 and 14 is such as to shape the suppository charge 22 in its intendedform. For example, as is known in the art, the charge 22 may have atorpedo shape or abullet shape. We form the sections 12 and 14 toprovide a joint between the sections at the widest diameter of thecharge 22, whether it be a bullet shape or a torpedo shape. Thisformation facilitates removal of the suppository from the capsulewithout deforrning it.

lIn the form of our invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, we. formaplunger 28 on the base of cap 24 in the interior of the cap. When thesuppository is to be used, end section 12 of the capsule body is removedto expose the nose of the suppository. We assemble cap 24 on section 14with plunger 28 almost in engagement with an end of charge 22 remotefrom the end` exposed when the section 12 is removed. After the nosesection 12 has been removed, cap 24 ispressed to slide it down on boss26 of section 14 to force suppository charge. 22 out of section 14 byplunger 28.

In the form of our invention shown in Figure 4, we provide threads 30 onthe outer surface of boss 26 for engagement with threads 32 on theinterior of cap 2 4. In this form of our invention we may form thesection 14 of the.y capsule body from a ilexible material such aspolyethylene. After the nose section 12 of the suppository capsule hasbeen removed, section 14 is squeezed in the region of the arrows A shownin FigureV 4 to force the suppository 22 out of section 14. It is to benoted that the provision of the joint between sections 12 and 14 at thewidest part of the charge 22 permits the charge to be readily ejectedfrom section 14.

In the manufacture of our encapsulated suppository, we iirst form thecapsule body sections 12 and 14 from a suitable plastic resinousmaterial, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or the like. Any convenientplasticA forming method may be employed to make these parts. After theparts have been formed, section 14 is assembled with section 12 bysliding boss 20 within flange 16 to rest on shoulder 13. As has beenexplained hereinabove, the fit between sections 12 and 14 may be afriction fit, snap t, or the like. Alternatively, a screw joint betweenthe two sections could be employed. Whatever type joint we use, weprovide an airproof and moistureproof seal between the two sections.After Vsections 12 and 14 have been assembled, we pour the moltensuppository material comprising the base and the medicament making upthe suppository 22 into the assembled sections 12 and 14. Theseoperations may conveniently be performed automatically by any tillingmachine known to the art.

In the form of our invention shown in Figures l to 3, we provide a cap24 formed of any appropriate material, such as polyethylene,polystyrene, or the like. The capsule may advantageously be transparentbut we may use an opaque synthetic resin if desired. Cap 24 includes aplunger 2S adapted to be inserted within section 14 to eject thesuppository charge from the section. In assembling cap 24 on boss 26 of.section 14, we dispose plunger 23 in contact with or very nearly incontact with an end of the charge 22. This is thedisposition of partsshown inl Figure 3. .When` assembled our apsule seals the suppositoryfrom the atmosphere to prevent gain or loss of moisture by thesuppository. The capsule acts as a mold for the charge 22, permittingthe charge to be solidified by refrigeration after melting under hightemperatures without loss of shape. When this form of our suppository isto be used, end section 12 is rst removed to expose the nose of thesuppository. ln order to ensure that the suppository remains in thesection 14, we may silicone or otherwise lubricate the interior surfaceof nose section l2 to facilitate its removal from the nose of charge22.. if desired, We may lubricate the body interior as well. After thenose of charge 22 has been exposed, cap 24 is slid down on boss 26 toforce plunger 28 into section 14 to initiate removal of charge 22 fromsection 14. We can form all oi the members of the capsule of the samematerial. This material can be any appropriate synthetic resin. We may,if we desire, form differentcomponents of the capsule from differingmaterials. For example, we may form the section 14 and its cap 24 ofpolyethylene while forming section 12 of polystyrene. Similarly, we mayform the section 14 of polyethylene and make the cap 24 and the section12 of polystyrene.

In the form of our yinvention shown in Figure 4, we follow the proceduredescribed with respect to the form of our invention shown in Figures lto 3 for assembling sections 12 and 14 and for forming charge 22 in theassembled sections. It is to be noted that in this form of ourinvention, section 14 is formed of polyethylene while section 12 and cap24 may be formed either of polyethylene or polystyrene. After the charge22 has been formed in the assembled sections 12 and 14, we place cap 24on boss 26 to provide a seal between the cap and section 14. Anysuitable type joint may be used to form this seal. Conveniently, we haveshown a screw joint including threads 30 on boss 26 and threads 32 oncap 24. When the suppository ofthis form -of our invention is to beused, we remove end section 12 to expose the nose of charge 22. Theremoval of charge 22 from section 14 may be accomplished by applyingpressure at the points indicated by the arrows A in Figure 4 to squeezecharge 22 out of section 14. Y v

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention.We have provided an encapsulated suppository and capsule therefor inwhich the capsule acts as a mold for forming the suppository. We haveprovided the capsule with means for initiating the vremoval of thesuppository from the capsule. Gur capsule is substantially airtight andmoistureproof, with the result that the charge will not lose or gainmoisture during shipment and storage. The capsule of our suppositorypermits resolidifying of the suppository after melting without change ofshape. In order to provide a differential release between the bodysections of our capsule, we may coat the interior of one of the sectionswith a lubricant.

It will be understood that certain features and subeombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope Iof ourclaims. lt is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scopeof our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described ourl invention, what we claim is:

l. An encapsulated suppository including in combination a capsule nosesection, a capsule body section, means forming a joint assembling saidcapsule nose section with said capsule body section, a suppositorydisposed within said assembled nose and body sections, a cap carried bysaid body section, a plunger carried by said cap for movement therewith,said body section being formed with a bore tapering from said jointtoward said cap Kand means mounting said cap on said body section 3 forrelative movement With respect to said body section to permit thesuppository to be ejected from said body section when said nose sectionis removed.

2. A11 encapsulated suppository as in claim 1, in which said cap andsaid plunger are integrally molded. 5

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,017,334 Ackerman Oct. 15, 1935 10 6 Peterson Mar. 30, 1954 BarradasMay 4, 1954 Linzmayer June 8, 1954 Lorenzo May 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTSFrance Ian. 10, 1953

